Ford EcoBoost Engine Quick Test

Though Ford has used an EcoBoost badge on five different engines, the name always signifies a high-power, small-displacement motor with one or two turbochargers. Every new car Ford has launched since 2009 has been offered with an EcoBoost engine, so it’s no secret Ford’s next-generation Mustang will have at least one EcoBoost option.

So far, rumors point to Ford using a new four-cylinder turbo engine in the 2015 Mustang. But until we get a call from our friends in Dearborn to drive the next pony, HOT ROD has tested the most powerful RWD EcoBoost on the market to show you what the future might hold. That put us behind the wheel of a 2013 Ford F-150 crew-cab pickup with the 3.5L twin-turbo V6.

2/2The 3.5L EcoBoost in the F-150 has plenty of room in the engine bay for exhaust and turbo upgrades, but the black plastic engine covers don’t really do the 365hp twin-turbo engine justice.

Torque On Demand

The 3.5L EcoBoost in the F-150 is rated at 365 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, but the V6 feels even stronger than those numbers suggest due to its broad torque curve. There is a noticeable lag when launching the truck from a standstill, but we’ve got a feeling that’s not the fault of the turbos—it’s tuning. Despite a sizable air-to-air charge cooler and its long ducting, the power lag seems to be part of the engine calibration. We don’t know if the lag is programed in for emissions purposes or drivetrain durability, but the electronic throttle slowly ramps open and keeps all the available torque from being wasted on burnouts—if you’d call that “wasted.”

Mileage May Vary

The “Eco” part of the EcoBoost implies it gets better fuel economy than a comparable V8, but our lead feet found economy to be the same as we’d expect from any 365hp V8 driven by yahoos like us. When we weren’t slogging through traffic, we were on the throttle. Even if you count the times we were drafting behind left-lane loiterers, you can’t call us hypermilers, so we concede our 15.5-mpg average was to be expected. We can’t back it up with real fuel-consumption data, but when we were cruising on the freeway at 65 mph, the in-dash fuel economy computer told us we were averaging 22 mpg, matching the EPA estimate.

How About Mustang?

There’s no reason to think Ford’s second-generation four-cylinder EcoBoost won’t offer the same benefits of a flat torque curve and great top-end power. A 300hp four-cylinder would be right at home in the sixth-generation Mustang, especially if the car loses some weight. However, for ponycar enthusiasts, the obvious appeal of a turbocharged engine is the ability to tune for more boost and power.

What’s The Future Hold?

The aftermarket has already stepped in with tuners and turbo upgrades for both the current 2.0L four-banger and the 3.5L V6. With just a tune, Livernois Motorsports will turn the EcoBoost 3.5L’s 365hp and 420-lb-ft ratings at the crank into rear-wheel-power. One search on YouTube will bring you four-door F-150s running 13 flat, and an all-wheel-drive Flex running well into the 12s.

We spoke with Chris Belleperche at Livernois, who told us that in 3.5L EcoBoost AWD applications, Ford’s drivetrain and fuel system both top out around 450 whp. For those looking for more, Livernois has a new piston and rod package to handle as much as 1,000 hp. They also offers CNC-ported cylinder heads to help make more power with less boost.

Like every new technology that comes around, direct injection was a hurdle for the aftermarket initially, but engine tuners have EcoBoost performance sorted out. Livernois has tuners available for every 3.5L EcoBoost vehicle, and it’s finishing up on 2.0L EcoBoost tunes for Focus and Escape. Next up will be upgrades for the 1.6L EcoBoost found in the base-model Fusion and Fiesta ST.

Factoids

You can spot EcoBoost-powered Ford F-150s by the charge-air cooler opening in the bumper. License plates are offset to the driver side to allow plenty of airflow.

Ford has EcoBoost powertrains as the performance engine in several North American car models. Aside from the 3.5L in the Taurus SHO, there’s also the 1.6L in the Fiesta ST and the 252hp 2.0L in the Focus ST.

Ford Racing currently offers an EcoBoost V6 crate engine for $9,400, which makes it pricier than the 400hp Aluminator 5.0L V8. The potential for big power might make the EcoBoost a sweeter deal in the future.